Anticreep rocking-chair



F. M. PIERCE.

ANTICREEP ROCKING CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 22, 1918.

Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

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A-NTICREEP ROCKING CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED APR.22, I9l8. 1,332,406. Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. 6

a 0 I e k E V :2. w a E W $5 E III I IIIII IIII II III FRANK M. PIERCE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ANTICBEEP ROCKING-CHAIR.

Application filed April 22, 1918.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

, Be it known that I, FRANK M. PIERCE, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Anticreep RockingChairs; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

It is a well known fact that rocking chairs as generally constructed are in the majority of cases the cause of considerable annoyance and discomfort to persons using them, due primarily to the creeping tendency of the rocking chairs when the same rest on rugs or directly on floors. It has been found that the creeping of rocking chairs is principally caused by the nap on rugs and carpets, by floors whirh are not level or have sags therein whereby the weight of rockin chairs and the rocking motion thereof cause creeping. A further cause for creeping has been traced to slight irregularities in floors which have a tendency to throw rocking chairs as the rockers thereof pass back and forth over the irregularities. The principal reason for the creeping effect in rocking chairs, however, has been found to lie in the rockers which act against each other with a pulling action, resulting from irregularities in their construction and in the manner of mounting the same on the legs of chairs.

This invention relates to an improved form of a non-creeping rocking chair, or

a rocking chair attachment, by which the rocking chair rockers rest upon suitable separate rigid base rails or floor strips, thus separating the rockers from the floor or rugs, thereby eliminating the creeping causes produced by the action of the nap of rugs or carpets and by irregularities and sags in floors. The counteraction set up between the rockers on a rocking chair is overcome by making the rockers true in new chairs, and is offset by the rigid floor strips when old rocking chairs are equipped with the improved attachment.

It is an object of this invention to provide an anti-creep rocking chair.

It is also an object of the invention to Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

Serial No. 229,965.

construct a rocking chair attachment adapted to obviate creeping.

Another object of the invention is to construct a rocking chair having the rockers thereof separated from a floor or rug.

It is a further object of the invention to construct a non-creepin rocking chair having the rockers thereof removably engaged on floor strips.

It is an important object of this invent1on to construct a rocking chair adapted to be mounted on floor strips adapted to obviate creeping and permitting removal of the rocking chair so that the same can be used in the regular way if desired without marring or injuring a floor or rug on which it is disposed, and also to make the chair rock easier. j

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and drawings.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1, is a side elevation of an anticreep rocking chair embodying the principles of this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view taken on line 2-2, of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail section taken on line 3-3, of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4: is a fragmentary section on line -ti, of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a reduced fragmentary detail section taken on line 55, of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of one of the floor strips.

Fig. '2' is a bottom plan view of one of the rockers, with parts broken away to show the construction.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to that shown in Fig. but showing the arrangement of a plurality of the rocker screws.

Fig. 9 is a section similar to that shown in Fig. 3, but of a modified form of the device.

Fig. 10 is a top plan View of the modified form of floor strip.

Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view of the modified form of rocker showing parts broken to disclose the construction.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 1, indicates the legs of a rocking chair, 2 the seat, 3 the arms and 4.- the back. Rigidly secured to the lower ends of the legs 1, in true relation to one an other ar rockers 5. The devicesassociated with the chair rockers are identical in con struction and the description of one side of the rocking chair will therefore only be given.

Rigidly secured to the bottom surface of the rocker 5, by means of screws 6, is a metal plate 7, the dimensions of which correspondto the length and width of the bottom surface of the rocker. The heads of the retaining screws 6, bear against the rocker plate 7, and as shown project therebelow, for a purpose hereinafter more clearly described. Stamped from each of the side margins of the rocker plate 7, are a plurality of alined downwardly or outwardly projecting lugs 8, withthe lugs in each row staggered with respect to thoi'e in the other row as shown in Fig. 7. Rigidly secured by vulcanizing or other suitable means to the bottom surface and on each side of the metal rocker plate 7 ,is a rubber side tread or tracker guide strip 9, provided with suitab e openings or recesses adapted to receive the lugs 8, of the rocker plate 7, therein to which the rubber may be made to adhere by the vulcanizing process thereby producing reinforced or stiffened rubber guide strips. Other materials may be used if desired or the chair rockers may be originally constructed to obviate the necessity of a separate rocker strip. As shown the length of the guide strips 9, is the same as that of the rocker 5. As shown and described it will be seen that the rocking chair may be used as a regular rocking chair with the tread guide strips 9, rest ing on a floor or carpet without injury or damage thereto.

Provided for each of the rockers 5, is a rigid base rail or floor member embracing a wooden or other suitable floor strip 10, having integrally formed longitudinally and centrally upon the upper surface thereof a rib or ridge 11. Securely mounted upon the floor strip 10, is a metal or other suitab e cover comprising a plate 12, having the side margins thereof bent downwardly at I right angles thereto and parallel to one anotherto form flanges 13, which are adapted to seat in side grooves formed in the floor strip for the purpose. The central portion of the cover is shaped or formed to provide an integral channel cross-sectioned longitudinallv disposed hood or retaining member 14:, the top or upper horizontal portion of which is provided with a plurality of alined openings or apertures 15, spaced to permit the same to register with the screw head of the screws 6, when the rocking chair is assembled. The hood 14, is disposed over the rib 11, to inclose the same, and as shown 'thetop of said hood is positioned a short distance above the top surface of the rib 11, to provide a space 16, to permit the screw heads to respectively project through the openings 15, when the guide strips are positioned on the plates 12, of the base members and when the chair is rocked and to further permit the base members to be moved with the rocking chair as it is pushed or pulled from one point to another. The rub ber strips 9, overcome any squeaking which might come from their pressing against the sides of the hood 14L, when'the rocking chairis in motion. I

In the modified form of rocking chair attachment disc osed in Figs. 9, 10 and 11, the reference numeral 17 designates a metal rocker plate the length and width of which are the same as the dimensions of the bottom surface of the rocker 5. The plate 17, has integrally formed or struck therefrom a plurality of downwardly directed lugs 18, which are alined with one another longitudinally along the center of the bottom surface of said plate. As shown the plate 17, is held in position by means of a plurality of staggered screw bolts 19, which are arranged in two rows on opposite sides of the lugs 18, and have the heads thereof bearing against and projecting-below the bottom surface of the plate 17. Rigidly secured longitudinally and centrally on the bottom of the rocker plate 17, by vulcanizing or other suitable means is a rubber guide strip 20, provided with a plurality of alined openings or recesses adapted to receive the lugs 18, therein to which the rubber may be made to adhere bythe vulcanization process thereby producing a reinforced or stiffened rubber guide Strip.

A rigid base rail or floor member is provided be ow the rocker 5, and comprises a wooden floor strip 21, provided with a central longitudinal groove to form a rib or ridge 22, along each side of said floor strip. Rigidly mountedupon the floor strip is a metal cover member embracing a channel bar 23, adapted to seat in the groove of the floor strip, and having integrally formed at right angles to the upper edge of each of the side flanges thereof a plate 24, provided with an integral downwardly directed flange 25, which is parallel to the channel flanges and is adapted to be secured to one of the outer sides of the floor strip to inclose the ribs 22, and hold the respective plates 24, positioned a short distance above the top surfaces of through at different times or periods whenthe rocking chair is rocked, thereby producing an arrangement whereby there is always, at least one-0fthe screw heads engaged in one of the openings 26, to permit the base members to be moved with the rocking chair as it is pulled or pushed from one point to another. The openings 26, in each plate 24, are alined with one another, and as shown in Fig. 10, the openings of said plates 24, are staggered with respect to each other, and are so spaced and disposed to permit the screw heads of the screws 19, to register therewith at di'lferent times as the rocking chair is rocked. The rubber guide strip 20,

permits the chair and rails to be drawn laterally simultaneously when desired and pro tect the floor from the screw heads when used without the floor rails and also acts to prevent ,squeaking as the sides thereof en gage or rub against the inner surfaces of the flanges of the channel member 23. The floor strip is exceedingly stilf and rigid to carry the Weight independent of floor irregularities.

The operation is as follows:

The anti-creeping device or attachment may be mounted on new rocking cha' s, or if desired old rocking chairs may be equipped therewith to convert the same into noncreeping rocking chairs. Due to the fact that the lugs 8, project only part way into the rubber guide strips 9, the rocking chair may be used without the base members, and may rest upon a floor or rug and be used thereon without marring or injuring the floor or rug.

T 0 hold the rocking chair against creeping the rockers 5, thereof are equipped as shown and described, and the chair is placed upon the rigid base members with the stiffened or reinforced rubber guide strips 9, disposed on opposite sides of the metal hoods 14, as shown in Fig. 3, and with the rocker plates 7, resting or bearing upon the tops of the hoods 14c, in a position wherein one of the screw heads of each rocker is engaged in one of the openings 15, of the hood, to permit the base members to be moved with the rocking chair as it is pulled or pushed from one position to another, while the rubber guides 9, serve to retain the rocking chair in position upon the base members and also act as a means to pull or push the base members when the rocking chair is moved sidewise. The rocking chair when mounted in position is thus separated from direct contact with the floor or rug and the causes tending to produce creeping are thus eliminated and the chair when operated does not creep. The rocking chair is easily rocked due to the metal to metal contact afforded between the plates 7, and the tops of the hoods l l. As the rockers rock upon the base members the screw heads are moved into and out of engagement with the respec tive openings 15, with which they register. In this preferred form of construction it will be observed that the support of the chair is practically a line bearing on the center rib and the strips 9, do not contact the base rail, so that even should the rails be slightly canted owing to floor inequalities the operation will not be affected.

The operation of the modified form of the attachment shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11, is practically the same as that above described, and as shown in Fig. 9, the rocker plates rest or bear upon the plates 2%, thus making a metal to metal contact permitting easy rocking. The guide strips 20, engaged or projecting into grooves afforded by the channel members 23, not only act as guide members to hold the rocking chair in position upon the base members, but also serve to move the base members sidewise when the rocking chair is pushed or pulled sidewise. The screw heads of the screws 19, which are staggered to correspond to the staggered arrangement of the openings 26, of course are moved into and out of engagement with said openings as the rocking chair is rocked upon the base members, thus preventing the rocking chair from sliding back and forth, or from moving sidewise any appreciable amount.

It will thus be seen that a rocking chair equipped with an anti-creeping attachment will not creep when rocked, and that the chair may be readily removed from the base members to permit the same to be used as an ordinary rocking chair. If desired a felt or other padding may be secured upon the bottom of the base members for the protection of floors and rugs if deemed necessary. The base members may, of course, be made ornamental and the details of materials and construction may be varied to suit the chair manufacturers ideas of appearance and utility.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

1 claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described, a chair, rockers secured thereon, rubber tracker guide strips secured thereto, projections on said rockers between said guide strips and base members adapted to removably receive said projections interfittingly engaged thereon to hold said chair and rockers from creeping when rocked.

2. An anti-creeping rocking chair embracing a chair, rockers secured thereon, plates secured to said rockers, lugs integral with said plates, guide members mounted on said plates and apertured to receive said lugs, and base members co-acting with said plates and guide members to hold the chair and rockers from creeping when rocked on said base members.

3.. An anti-creeping rocking chair comprising a chair, rockers secured thereon, tread plates, screws for holding the same secured to said rockers with the screw head projecting below said plates, lugs integral with said plates, resilient guidessecured to said plates and lugs, floor strips, and apertured cover members secured on said floor strips adapted to relno'vably receive the rockers thereon with the screw heads adapted to register and interfit with the apertures in said cover members when the chair is rocked, said guides acting to hold the rockers en gaged on said cover members and co-acting with saidscrew heads to permit movement of said floor strips with the chair when it is pushed or pulled.

4. The combination with a rocking chair, plates on the rockers of said chair, screws for holding said plates in place with the screw heads projecting and apertured base members adapted to removably receive said chair thereon to hold t e same against creeping when rocked and to removably receive said projecting screw heads in the apertures thereof to permit movement of said base members with said chair. when it is pulled or pushed.

5. In an article of furniture of the clas described, screws secured to the rockers thereof with the screw headsprotruding, and a pair of base members having apertures therein and adapted to act as mountings for said rockers and removably receive said.

chair removably disposed thereon, pro'jections onthe rocking chair rockers adapted to removably engage in said apertures to form a non-creeping rocking chair, and guide members on said rockers adjacent said projections permitting said rocking chair to be used as an ordinary rocking chair when removed from said base members with the guide members serving as tread members.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK .M. PIERCE.

Witnesses:

FRANK A. BREMER, J r., Finn) E. PAESLER. 

